Car Buying Tips
So, you are in the market for a new or “new to you” car. Here are some tips to help you make the best choice for you and your family. With a little preplanning and research, you can find just the right vehicle for your needs without spending too much money. Follow these steps to get the right vehicle for the right price every time.
- Budget- Before you start looking for a “new” vehicle, determine what budget you will have to work with. Set a realistic number that you can afford. Remember to include tax and titling costs and possible increased insurance costs. Do you have the funds to buy it outright or do you have a down payment or trade-in? A trade-in will decrease your tax requirement, but many dealers will give you less for a trade-in than you could sell it private party for. In some situations, it is safer and easier to just trade it in for your next vehicle and sometimes it is worth the effort to sell your old vehicle yourself. If you need to finance, it is best to talk to your local bank before financing through a dealer. A local bank will sometimes have better financing interest rates and they can help you come up with a realistic budget number to work with. Knowing what your bank has to offer will let you know if the dealer rate for financing is the right choice. A new vehicle is always more enjoyable when you don’t have to struggle to make the payments. Just because you pay more for a vehicle doesn't mean it is a better vehicle. Vehicle condition and reliability can vary greatly depending on the year, make, model, and service history.
- Make a list- Make a list of the features and requirements that you need or would like in your next car. Break them down in needs and wants. The needs will be items or features that will make or break a deal. The wants are items or features you would like to have but can do without them if the deal is right.
For example: - Needs- Great gas mileage, 4 doors, cruise control, low maintenance, four-wheel-drive, and air conditioning.
- Wants- Heated seats, heated steering wheel, great stereo, remote start, or the prettiest blue that matches your eyes.
- Do the research- Now that you have a budget and a want/need list it is time to fire up the great Google search engine and create a potential vehicle list. Sites like Cars.com, Carsoup.com, and Autotrader.com are great places to input your wants/needs and budget to narrow down possible vehicles. See what vehicle makes and models you like that fall within your budget. Then research those specific vehicle years, makes, and models to see what the reviews are. Look for how reliable they are, see what common problems they have, and how satisfied those vehicle owners are. Call your trusted automotive service center and ask about the reliability of those years, makes, and models. This will help you further narrow down your year, make, and model list.
- Test drive several vehicles- Now that you have a narrowed down list it is time to find some examples of those vehicles. Don’t be too concerned with the price or specific years at this time and don’t get sucked into how pretty it looks. What you are looking to do is get some seat time and go for a few test drives. See if you have friends or family that have examples of those cars you can drive. Search out for some dealers that have examples of those vehicles. During the test drives ask yourself these questions. Does the vehicle fit you? Do you have good visibility around the car? Do you like how it rides and drives? Do you like how the interior is laid out and how the accessories operate? Will it properly suit your vehicle needs? Is it available within your budget? Many vehicles look great on paper, and you will think that they will work perfectly for you but then you take a 5-minute drive and find out that you don’t like something about them. Now is the time to figure that out before you are committed to buying something.
- Get serious about looking for the right vehicle- By this point you will have a good idea of a few vehicles to look for. You should have a list of some specific years, makes, and models that will be a great fit. Start looking for those vehicles that meet your needs and fit your budget. Take them for a test drive and have them inspected before you commit to buy. This is very important! A vehicle might look great on the outside, but they will tell a totally different story when viewed from underneath. Don’t trust the dealer inspections 100% as they are trying to sell vehicles. If the dealer or the person selling the vehicle is hesitant about having the vehicle inspected by an independent shop, the warning signs should be going off in your head. Time to walk away from the deal. If the dealer is open to independent inspections, it is a good indicator of an honest dealer. A good vehicle inspection can save you thousands of dollars and keep you from getting stuck with a lemon. An independent inspection by a trusted and qualified repair facility can also be used as a bargaining tool to get you into a lower purchase price. Be sure to take it to a shop that you can trust. A good vehicle inspection should include a VIN history check, recall check, thorough test drive, and full vehicle inspection. You should get a full report from the inspection and an estimate for any needed maintenance or repairs. Knowing this information before you commit to buy will help you make wise purchasing decisions and is well worth the cost of the inspection.
- Be cautious of extended warranty or service contracts- Car dealers like to push extended warranties or extended service contracts. Usually, they present them towards the end of the sale in such a way that you don’t have much time to review them properly. Most will increase the purchase cost of your vehicle by several thousand dollars. Service contracts can benefit the vehicle owner, but it all comes down to the fine print of the contract. Take the time to read the fine print of the contract! They are very specific about what they will or will not cover. If you are not familiar with the automotive terms used in the policy, get a copy of it, and bring it with you to the independent repair facility when you have your vehicle inspected. A quality repair facility will be experienced with service contracts and extended warranties. They can tell you if it is a good investment or a waste of money. One more thing to note is that most contracts do not require you to have the work done at the dealer where you purchased the vehicle. Many will make you think that because they want the work, but it is just not true. Make sure you can have your vehicle regularly serviced at your trusted service provider.
- Be patient- The right vehicle for you at the right price is out there. Don’t be sucked into the urgent buy it now pricing or pressure. Resist the urge to buy that vehicle because you like the color. When you rush into purchasing a vehicle you waste your future time and buckets of money. Never be afraid to walk away from a deal. There are plenty of vehicles out there!
Purchasing a new or “new to you” vehicle can be a stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Slowing down the process and taking some time to do the research will get you into just the right vehicle for you without breaking the bank and strapping you with an unneeded financial burden or vehicle repair lemon. Take your time and partner with a quality repair facility, like Sanderson Auto Repair, which can help provide you with the right information to make the best decision for you. The right vehicle can be a joy to own and provide you with years of reliable service and many happy memories for miles and miles down the road.
Aaron B.